One obvious way to campaign for a major office is to get oneself scheduled on a national political network.
On CNN, for example. It’s useful for a pol on the move to be on the air of the longtime cable news outlet. That Justin J. Pearson was featured last week on an installment of NewsNight, the Abby Phillip vehicle that sets up libs and rightists to talk over each other and drown each other out, was altogether to the advantage of Pearson, challenger of resident congressman of Tennessee’s 9th District, Steve Cohen.
For Pearson, it was a way to introduce himself to viewers as a certified New Thing, as a possible successor to opponent Cohen, who’s been around a while.
The subject matter of NewsNight is divided into three or four segments — all based on breaking news matters with promising content for controversy. On Pearson’s night, this had to do with such matters as the infamous “double-tap” destruction of a Venezuelan boat crew presumed to be running drugs toward the American heartland. Other subjects involved the ongoing excesses of ICE against the nation’s population of undocumented immigrants.
It was typical fare for an evening of verbal combat between partisans of the left and right, though none of the several subject matters involved ground on which young Pearson had yet to establish himself as a player.
It fell to his part rather to offer more generalized amenities related to the American sense of fair play and due process — well-spoken and good enough to embellish his profile though not sufficient to garner any particular gotcha moments.
Still, there he was, taking a star turn sure to burnish his credentials as a new face on the national political scene — precisely what he needs in his challenge to Cohen. That’s one way to court the electorate.
And here’s another. As for the congressman himself, Cohen was choosing that week to stir familiar memories, coming online via Messenger to say a few things conversationally:
[Punctuation edited for clarity.] Been patiently watching constituency for “Keep going with Cohen.” Focus groups looking very good. No leading political spin or cute stuff, just “My Record.” Before I poll I want to ask you, are you “going with Cohen”? Let me hear from you here. Want to contribute? Thanks, Cohen for Congress, 349 Kenilworth, Memphis 38122.
Cohen corrected the ZIP to 38112 and added, “Thanks all for voicing your support. The 9th has been and is Cohen Country”
And that little squib drew some equally conversational assurances from Cohen loyalists who answered that they were still on base for him.
A day or so later a note dropped online from Cohen’s congressional office notifying the district media regarding “home repair efforts for Memphis seniors.” This, too, is a way to kindle interest among voters.
From this point on, we can expect to see campaign approaches by all the modes indicated here and by others as well.